The man's expression grew complex as he saw his child approach.
"Shintaro, why are you here?"
The seven- or eight-year-old boy named Shintaro cast a fearful, hateful glance at Horitake, then urgently tugged at his father's arm, pulling him away.
"Papa! Let's not talk to him! Let's go home!"
The man stood, giving Horitake an apologetic look before being dragged off by his son, Shintaro.
Something was off—terribly off! From start to finish, nothing felt right!
That man clearly knew something but didn't dare say it outright, dropping hints throughout their conversation.
The man's behavior was suspicious enough, but the boy's was even stranger!
Why would he hate a stranger he'd just met?
And when Shintaro pulled his father away, there was an unmistakable air of resentment toward him.
Watching their retreating figures, Horitake's senses sharpened. He whipped his head around, scanning the street!
A group of children, varying in age, were furtively watching him from the other side. Their gazes were odd, tinged with fear and… pity!?
Caught spying, the children scattered in a panic, like startled birds.
Something was wrong—deeply wrong! Everything in Higashimacho was off, especially the children!
As the sun dipped lower, Horitake felt an unnatural, oppressive, and eerie atmosphere enveloping the town.
There was definitely a demon.
It might not be particularly strong, but its harm and the fear it instilled were significant. Higashimacho had been tormented into an unnatural state.
Time to review the gathered intel.
In summary, two key pieces of information:
First, the missing or dead were all couples.
Second, their children were unharmed, supposedly doing fine.
Based on a demon's personality and their human past, different demons had distinct preferences for their victims.
For instance, Upper Rank Two, Douma, avoided eating men, while Upper Rank Three, Akaza, rarely harmed women.
But a demon targeting only couples? That was a first.
Horitake couldn't help but wonder: Is this demon some bitter singleton? Resenting couples from its human days, so it targets them now?
Of course, that was a jest. The theory didn't hold up.
If it were a singleton's grudge, the demon would likely target lovers, not married couples.
Moreover, Horitake noted that the deceased—or rather, murdered—couples all had children, and those children were young, not yet adults.
Combined with the strange behavior of the town's children, something was amiss with them.
Horitake formed a tentative hypothesis.
He needed more information to confirm it.
Where to find more intel?
The man from earlier, of course!
It wasn't that Horitake was fixated on one source, but among all the people he'd questioned, that man had been the most cooperative, subtly hinting at much.
Horitake was certain he could extract more from him.
This time, he couldn't ask directly or beat around the bush—he'd have to snoop discreetly.
Ensuring no one was around, Horitake darted to a nearby rooftop. From this vantage point, he spotted the man and his son.
Shintaro, pulling his father's hand, hurried home, his face a mix of irritation and unease, muttering complaints under his breath.
The man, dragged along, had vacant, shadowed eyes, his feet shuffling as if he were a walking corpse.
Horitake leaped lightly across rooftops, trailing them.
Soon, the father and son reached their home, slamming the door shut as if fleeing a monstrous beast outside.
Horitake landed softly on their roof, activating his spiritual vision to observe the scene inside and overhear their conversation.
Once home, the man, like a lifeless husk, slumped into a corner, his face still etched with despair.
Shintaro locked the door tightly, then ran inside. Seeing his father's dejected state, he stomped his feet, tears streaming as he sobbed and accused his father.
"Papa! Why did you talk to a stranger!? Are you trying to get me killed!? Or yourself!?"
Raising his head to his son, the man spoke quietly.
"That man… he's not from town. He's an outsider."
Shintaro wailed, his voice a mix of sobs and shouts.
"I know that! I'm asking why you spoke to an outsider!? Now they've definitely seen you talking to him! I have to report to him tonight!
I don't want to face that monster!
He'll eat me!
Waaah… sob, sob, sob…"
The despondent man approached, stroking Shintaro's head. Though terrified himself, he tried to comfort his son.
"Don't worry, he won't eat you. All this time, he's never eaten a child, has he?"
Shintaro broke down, shouting at his father.
"But he'll eat you, Papa! He only eats other people's parents!"
Wiping tears, Shintaro sobbed uncontrollably.
"You talked to that outsider for so long. If he suspects you leaked his secret, what if he eats you?
Sob… I don't want you to be eaten! I don't want to lose you! You're all I have left."
The man suppressed his own fear, forcing a playful tone to reassure his son.
"He won't eat me. I only chatted briefly with the outsider. I didn't reveal his secret, right?"
"I know! I trust you, Papa, but…" Shintaro's sobs came in gasps. "But he might not believe you! He'll suspect you betrayed his identity!
And he's a monster! Does a monster need a reason to eat someone?
Naruta's parents, Hana's parents, Morihara's parents… so many of my friends' parents were eaten by him!
I don't want you to be eaten too!"
Horitake, perched on the roof, listened to this exchange, his mind racing.
Tch, that's a lot of information.
Inside, hearing Shintaro's tearful pleas, the man could no longer contain his fear. His face paled, but he tried to stay calm.
"Don't panic, don't panic. It'll be fine. I won't be eaten.
When you report to him tonight, stay calm.
No matter what he asks, just keep saying: My father didn't reveal any secrets!
But above all, don't anger him. Shintaro, your safety comes first!
As long as you're safe, I'll be at ease!"
In that moment, the man thought to himself:
*I hope that man was one of the legendary Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen. I hope he can kill that monster. My risky hints to him weren't in vain.
If he can't…
Worst case, the monster eats me!
Per his habits, he won't harm Shintaro after I'm gone. Shintaro's still a child.
Though life without a father will be hard, and he'll be gathered with the others, at least he'll survive!*
In that moment, the father had resolved to face death.
(This chapter is entirely original, filled with suspense and unanswered questions. It may feel a bit chaotic, but all mysteries will be revealed in the next chapter. Please keep reading!)
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